Suggested Essay Topics

1. Discuss the role of sickness
in the novel. Victor often seems to fall ill after traumatic events.
Is this a means of escape, and, if so, is it effective? Is there
another explanation for his recurring illness?

2. Do the monster’s eloquence
and persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize with
him? Why do you think most film versions of the story present the
monster as mute or inarticulate?

3. Trace the similarities between
Victor and the monster. Consider their respective relationships
with nature, desires for family, and any other important parallels
you find. Do Victor and the monster become more similar as the novel
goes on? How does their relationship with each other develop?

4. Victor attributes his tragic
fate to his relentless search for knowledge. Do you think that this
is the true cause of his suffering? In what ways does the novel
present knowledge as dangerous and destructive?

5. Examine the role of suspense
and foreshadowing throughout the novel. Do you think these devices
are effective, or does Victor’s blatant foreshadowing reveal too
much? How does foreshadowing differ among the three main narrators (Walton,
Victor, and the monster)?